Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 May 2021
377. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated cost of restrictions and lockdowns in terms of social housing not built and private properties not built since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25710/21]
View answerThe Government’s public health response to COVID has involved restrictions on construction activity in both 2020 and 2021.
In 2020, construction activity ceased for a seven-week period from 28 March to 18 May, although certain designated social housing projects were allowed to continue. In 2021, public health restrictions required most residential construction to stop from 8 January to 12 April, again with provision for certain designated social housing projects to continue.
The restrictions on construction activity has naturally impacted on output. In 2020, CSO data shows that there were 20,676 new dwelling completions, which represented a reduction of 2% on 2019 output. Social housing delivery was also impacted with a total of 7,827 social homes delivered in 2020, approximately 70% of the target. In 2021, there was a longer period of restrictions, which will impact on housing delivery. However, it is too early to say what the overall impact will be. In respect of social housing, I have asked local authorities to engage with developers, contractors and their AHB delivery partners to take all possible measures to maximise delivery in 2021.
